Tamirat Tola and Hellen Obiri are set to defend their titles and contend for another in the women’s open division; Marcel Hug, a winner of a dozen major marathons, will vie for his record-breaking seventh title in the wheelchair division; and Paris 2024 athletes, including Conner Mantz, Clayton Young, Dakotah Lindwurm, Susannah Scaroni, and Daniel Romanchuk, will lead the American delegation. Missing this marathon would indeed be a great shame.

This ambitious setup is the brainchild of New York Road Runners (NYRR), a non-profit organisation driven by determination and excellence, who have once again assembled a constellation of professional stars for one of the most prestigious marathons, if not the most, on the planet—the New York City Marathon 2024.

The event will see the participation of up to 31 athletes from the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, who will run through the five boroughs (Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx) on Sunday, 3 November—a day when vibrant, lively New York grinds to a halt—. Not to be forgotten are the amateurs, who, despite their non-professional status, have trained with as much dedication and drive for this gruelling yet inspiring challenge.

In the men’s open division, Tola, fresh off his gold medal in Paris, leads the pack. Last year, he broke away from the group in the final six miles, finishing in just over two hours, clocking 2:04:58. Interestingly, this stellar performance came merely two weeks after being named a reserve in the Ethiopian team, as an extraordinary example of resilience and reinvention.

"I'm excited to defend my title in New York, especially after a record-breaking performance in the Olympic marathon," Tola remarked, glowing with the brilliance of a true star. "The hilly course and the crowds in Paris prepared me well for the bridges and spectators in New York, where I might even run faster," the African powerhouse hinted in his recent statements, clearly determined to claim the crown in his division.

However, not everyone is on board with this Ethiopian dominance—Belgian Bashir Abdi, a double Olympic medallist and world championship medallist—, had to watch as Tola crossed the Olympic marathon finish line ahead of him. The stage is set for a rematch between these two titans of long-distance running.

Adding to this line-up of excellence are four Kenyans. First up is 2022 TCS New York City Marathon champion Evans Chebet, followed by 2021 victor Albert Korir, Geoffrey Kamworor, who triumphed in 2019 and 2017, and Abel Kipchumba, the 2024 United Airlines NYC Half champion. All of them have the legs to capture the attention of the world’s capital, which will have its eyes firmly fixed on the extensive 26.2-mile (42-kilometre) course.

In the women’s division, the standout name is undoubtedly Hellen Obiri, a three-time Olympic medallist, seven-time individual world championship medallist, and the reigning champion of both the Boston and New York marathons. Last year, she left spectators in awe with a final sprint of nearly half a kilometre to claim the first-ever double by a woman over the age of 34. She’s a true competitor, a predator of success.

A year on, the narrative appears to be following the same trajectory. In April, she became the first woman since 2005 to retain the Boston Marathon title, and with a podium finish in Paris, she seems determined to repeat her East Coast marathon double at all costs. "There’s no place like New York, and I’m more than ready to defend my title on what has become one of my favourite days of the year," the formidable Kenyan declared.

If anyone can halt Obiri’s charge, it’s her compatriot, Sharon Lokedi. The young 30-year-old came agonisingly close to a medal in Paris, only to be pipped by, Obiri. Lokedi returns after finishing third last year, hoping to recapture the memories of 2022 when she lifted the trophy in her marathon debut. The Kenyan delegation, a true powerhouse in the discipline, also includes seasoned veteran and 2010 New York champion Edna Kiplagat, the experienced four-time Olympic medallist Vivian Cheruiyot, and Sheila Chepkirui, who holds the distinction of having the best personal record on the course.

In the wheelchair divisions, Marcel Hug, the Swiss marathon titan, returns to the TCS New York City Marathon with a clear objective: to clinch his seventh title in the Big Apple. With a career studded with records, including consecutive victories in all Abbott World Marathon Majors events in 2023, Hug is the man to beat. 

"The energy in New York and the enthusiasm of the crowd are unmatched," Hug remarked, viewing this race as an opportunity to once again showcase the strength of his competitive spirit. However, Hug won’t be alone in the battle; American Daniel Romanchuk, the youngest winner of this division in 2018, and Dutch paratriathlon stars Jetze Plat and Geert Schipper, will be looking to dethrone the Swiss champion. The competition promises to be electrifying.

In the women’s category, Switzerland’s Manuela Schär, with three consecutive New York titles and an impressive consistency on the podium, leads the field. Alongside her are Australia’s Madison de Rozario, who dazzled in 2021 by winning both the Paralympic gold and the New York Marathon, and American legends Tatyana McFadden and Susannah Scaroni, both with multiple medals to their names. British youngster Eden Rainbow-Cooper, who shocked everyone by winning in Boston, will attempt to challenge this group of veterans in just her second appearance in New York. The race is shaping up to be a clash between experience and youthful vigour.